Highway gate



A118 30, 1932- M. MacD. DILLEY ET AL I 1,874,926

HIGHWAY GATE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 INVENTOI.

ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Aug. 30', 1932 UNITED vSiTATlazsf MORRIS MACDONALD' DILLEYf ANDJAMES HFRASERQoFdcoLuMiUs, INDIANA; Asj PATENT omer;

sIGNoRs To AU'roMAfrIc SAFETY SIGNAL' crATEfco.,` or COLUMBUS;`I"1\IDIA1`\TA,"Af`` CORPORATION u HIGHWAY GAIE y, Y

Application led December 5,1931. Serial No. 579,150. i"

This invention relates to a gate structure which is adaptable forprotecting a highway crossing of a railroad orthe like..`

Y The "chief object of this invention is to improve and simplify gatestructures ot the character indicated and in such a manner that the gatearm may be tilted through a power mechanism and while supported by arotatable head and each movement being relatively independent of theother and without "interference from the other. l

p e mechanism removed.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the particulararrangement of and the simplication of the parts necessary to accomplishthe foregoing obj ect.

One particular feature of the invention.y

consists in the mounting of the head upon a supporting pedestal in sucha manner thatl the head is normally constrained towardseated positionupon the pedestal and thesame constraining force is arranged toautomatically return the head when turned and upon release from theturning force.v

Anotherpartic'ular feature of the invention consists in mountingthepower for tilting the gate arm within and near "the base of 'theunderstood from the accompanyingV 'drawLy ing and thev followingdescription and claims i Fig. l is a sectional view `of theipedestal, ivthe pedestal supported portionV of the gate and mechanism enclosed bythe pedestal.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pedestal with the pedestal supportedportion and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l andin the direction ofthe arrows:

In the drawing l0 indicates a hollow frus toconical pedestal suitablylsupported` upon a base 11. Access to the pedestal maybe ob ino' of thehead does not interfere with'the tained throughV the door .12, theylatterabeing i` retained in close'd position by the latchu13 f whichvmayor may not belocke'd, provision Vfortheformerbeing provided at 14.A`zTheupper end `or the -pedestal includes a spider construction 16which has two of its arms 17 spaced at a central angle greater than 180.

The 'hub 18 of the spider is suitably recessed" as at 19. Mountedtherein is a' ball race orl antifriction construction 20. A similarlyarranged spider construction 2l`is rigid with a head 22 and the head 22has adepending skirt 23 that overlaps the top of the pedestal andprevents drainage from the head passing linto the pedestal. VThepedestal also includes the cover 24` similarly skirted at 25 forasimilar purpose.

VThe pedestal-rotatably mounts the head Y structure. Upon the axis Aofrotation thereof' and transverse thereto,is-a rock shaft 26 which hassecuredto it av gate arm 27,"the` same being of multiple character asindicatedV f `at 28, thelextension 29 being arranged to tilt f when`necessary with respect to the portion27 so that'if the gate armdescends'upon a 'vehi-v.

cl-e on the crossing, the portion 29 will remain stationary rrelative'tothe `vehicle while the;A

portion.i 27 even'` thoughV theflatter is;l being tilted.A After thevehicle haslpassed trombe? neath the portion 29, theconnection'28, isofi su'ch characterthatportion 291is automatically realigned withportion27 inthe crossing? protecting position. y V, ,Withinthe headAstructure thereis suit-` ably mountedand secured to therock shaft 26, alever arm 30 which has a cylindrical por-, J 'Y tion 31. The outer endof portion 3l`7is pro-z` videdlwith an annular groove 32. Ayoke; 33 `isof angular type. `The L arms thereof? straddle lthe cylindricalportion`3l and a: re-jy taining bolta34: connects lthe twoiarms and' Yseats-'in the annular groove 32. `Viith this cone; struction, the member33 may pivot/onrthef spindle portion 3l to the desired degree. -Theoffset endv of yoke 33 includes a pivotreceiv-` otal connecting bolt 36that seats the eye y91s, Y ing opening 35 and mounted therein isapivportions 37 of the ears of a' threadedconl necting member 38. i Ajrod39 hasathreaded" l connection with the threadedportion v38 and said rodconstitutes the piston rod of the power structure. The connectionsbetween said rod 39 and said lever arm 30 include two pivots atV rightangles which constitute a universal joint. Y f

Substantially coaXially positionedbeneath Y the turning mechanism of thehead, is a uni- Y versal joint construction 40 which includes a ball 41connected by a neck 42 to a cylinder head 48; Thecylinder 44 issupported thereby land within the cylinder is mounted the pistonV 46carried by one end of the rod 39,. It will be apparent that the cylinderand piston rod construction is tilted with` reference to Vthe axis ofthe head.

"The spider constructions kloefore mentioned, itV will Ylo'e recalled,include a spacing greater than180andinfacusaid spacing is approximately2009v more. kIn said spacing is positioned said piston'rod 39 so that inthe rela-1 tive movement between the head and the pedestalfthepistonjrod 39 turns with thehead and y:does not lengage or receiveanyginterl ferenceV from the spider arms.

i K 53 respectively, .so'jthat no matter what posi-Y tion the-cylinderlhas been tilted, it .will al-` i-ways "be in communication uwith .thesupply Y line 50. Suitable control means are provided I* -Y-It will alsobe observed that in view of the .-municates with the apertured portion.51 of the base 40. The Vball and neck. V41 and 42 respectively arevshown apertured as at 52 and forlcontrollingrthe supply and' discharge:of

fluid-under pressureto and. from said cylin-Y der respectively but areynot illustrated here- I-:n' the=present invention, the. gate .arm isshownvv provided with 'ra counterweight var- ,rangement 54 and saidwei-ghtis herein illustrated `as arranged to tilt thejgatev arm intoethevertica'l position. In .otherV words, the' present .disclosure issuch so that pressuresupplied to'the lower end Vof the cylinder 44positively lowers the gate.'V `By a different leveraged arrangement anddifferent counter- Y guarding position.

-'weighting,vthe counterweightV may'V be ar- Y rangedto lowerthe gateVand the fluid pres- Y sure positivelyraiseA the..V gate in oppositiontojthe Lcounterweight. Y In'that event, release of'irpressure. from thecylinder will permit saidceounterweight when thus connected'toi the'gatear-m to lower lthe gate into crossing 'gr-Likewise' withoutdeparting kfrom Ythe inventionim its /patentable features, -thecylinder-and piston-constructionmay befarranged site sides of the pistonand'alternately and in that event, the counterweighting may beeliminated and th-e gate will be raisedr and lowered positively bythepower means of fluid pressure character. All of the aforesaid `forms ofpower operation are considered to be the full equivalentso as thepresent disclosureis concerned.

the head when it has been turned from out of guarding position Ainto anintermediate position between jthat and parallel to Ythe road, includesa (3o-operative coniiectioiibetween the head andthe pedestal. Rigid withthespider 2l and suitably secured thereto,

is' a depending shaft60. Shaft 60 is rotat-` ably mounted inthehub 18 ofthe spider 16 of .the pedestal-and the. hub 2l bears on 'theanti-friction race 2O so that the friction in the turning ymovement ismaterially reduced,

This shaft immediately below its rotative mounting in the hub 18 ofthepedestal spider, includes a pair of opposite flatfaces 6l,

The hub 62 includes an aperture therein.,v with a pair of opposite flatfaces 63 and arcuately connecting portions 64. rlhe diamfor'supplyingfluid under pressure to oppo- I Mechanism for automatically, returningeter of the arcuate vconnecting `portions and the spacing is slightlygreater thanA the dif ameter of the shaft 60 dwhile the vwidth of 1theface 63 and the spacing between Vthe faces isslightly'greater thanthe same of Vthe por-V tions 6l of the shaft 60; softhat the. hub 62 hasa Vso-ealledsloppy lit and isslidably mounted .on the rshaft 60 and isnon-rotatably mounted thereon also.

l Secured :to the-pedestal inner wall and near the upper end, isa camtrack construct tion 65, Herein a pair-of spaced camrtracks isdisclosed;` The hub y62 includesa pair of arms .66 that extendradiallytherefrom and each terminates in a pivotal support (llthatmounts a roller68 which may, if desired, be pivotally supported-on l'theend 'of the' arm at 67 and through an anti-friction construe` tion.Roller. 68 constitutes ythe cam followers.

VVIt rides :on thefcam track-65. The lower Y en d'of'thehub 62 bears enawasher 6,9. A' coil spring 70V has one end bearing on 'theopposite faceof washer and is vconcentric with said'shaft. Thelofwer endoftlfieshaftV has an adjustable bearing Vconst zruction Tl' againstwhichthe lower end of the spring bears.

As the head is turned', vthe arms'l66 are necessarily turned with theAYshaft, 60 rigid with'thehead; `Said arms as they turn, sincesupporting the rollers 68 which are in engage-Y ment'witli the camtraclr` 65 and the spring Z0 bears on the hub, necessarilymove'downwardly as the turning' increases.VVV ln otherv wo'rdsytlie coilspring which normally tends -t entend itself, is compressedriii'theYmovement ofthe cam'followers. Y Thus, the spring rat-gaf is providedwith :additional force lso that when the head is released from 'theinitial turning force, said spring forces the hub 62 upwardly and inthis upward movement, 5 there is imparted to the shaft a turningmovement, because the cams 68 follow the track 65. The spring 70,therefore, has a double duty. It normally holds downthe head lupon ythepedestal, because the upper end of the spring bears on the hub 62, theupward movement of which is limited by the contact of the rollerfollowers 68 upon theV cam 65. The other duty of the spring is to insurepositive andV automatic return of the head to the initial position whenforcibly turned from the predetermined position.

It will also be observedthat the shaft does not extend to the bottom ofthe pedestal but terminates a considerable distance above the same sothat the universal joint, before mentioned, may be, if and when desired,substantially aligned with the aXis of said shaft 60 and preferably theend of the shaft 60 is positioned such that the coil spring and theadjustable retainers thereon do not interfere with either the piston rodor the cylinder in the swinging movement thereof occasioned by theturning of the headfor the rod and the piston move therewith.

It also will be noted that the power Vmechanism is universally mountedat its lower end and is substantially universally Vconnected at itsopposite end to the gate arm actuating follower means beingnon-rotatably associated together and having relative longitudinalmovement whereby rotation of the head causes cam follower means movementalong the shaft for'loading the spring for automatic return of the headand cam follower means to initial position upon" release from theconstraining head turning force.

2. In combination a hollow pedestal, a horizontally rotatable headmounted thereon, a gate arm pivotally supported upon the head forvertical movement, a cylinder piston construction positioned within thepedestal, a

universal joint construction arranged to support one end of saidconstruction at the base of the pedestal, the other end of saidconstruction being operatively connected to the and 'construction,`and auniversal gate .a1-Infor tiltingfthe armfinone direction.;

3, In combination'v a'v hollow pedestal, 1 a: Y

horizontally rotatable head mounted thereon,

a gate armlpivotally supported upon theheadv 'for vertical movement, acylinder and piston construction positioned within they pedestal, f

a universallj oi'nt connection between the arm;

mounting for the construction.

' 4. In combination a hollow pedestahva hor Q j' izontal'ly rotatablehead mounted thereon, a'

t joint 4' gate arm'pivotallysupported uponthe head l. i

for vertical vmovement, meansadjacent theV head and 'withinthepedestaloperatively-rf ranged to i retain the' head there'gnand-con-i strain the head to 'return the saine to2 initial position*whenV turned, acylinder "and piston construction within the" pedestaland having one end, operatively connectedto gate armf Vfor tilting samein onefdirectioma universal;

joint construction arranged' vto support i the other end ofthe pistonlandcylinder construction directly beneath saidineansr'vliere-V byturning of the head-does not interfere with gate arm tilting, saidmeansterminating in spaced relation relative to the cylinder and pistonconstruction;

5'. In combination a pedestal Vincludinga transversehead support, a headrotatably supported thereby, a gate arm` pivotally supported by the headfor vertical movement thereon, a shaft structurerotatably associatingthe head and the head support and terminating beneath the latter and atappreciable distance above the bottom ,ofV the pedestal, yieldingmeans'associated with the shaft for normally retaining the head on thepedestal, downwardly directed cam means carried bythe pedestal near theupper end thereof, camffollowers engaging saidv cam means, cam followersupport .means .nonrotatably and slidably mounted upon said shaftV andoperatively associated with saidl f yielding means, whereby the camfollowers normally engage the cam means and when the head is turned willautomatically cause 4 the return of the head to theinitial position uponrelease from the head turning force, power means mounted in substantialalignment with the shaft and universally mounted for conical swingingmovement tocorrespond with head turning movement, the shaft and yieldingmeans being entirely within the cone of movement Aof the power means fornoninterference therewith, and meansV connectg, 2 ing the power meansand the gate for tilting i of the latter in one direction. j y l j 6. Incombination a pedestal including a. transverse head support, a headrotatably supported thereby, a gate arm vpivotally sup- 'f ported by thehead for vertical 'movement' thereon, a shaft structure rotatablyassociating the head and the head support and terminating beneath thelatter and at appreciable distance above Vthe bottom of thepedestalyyielding means associated, with the shaft for normall7retaining the head on thevr pedestaL- downwardly directed Vcam meanscarriedY by thelpedestal near tlieupper end thereof', cam followersengaging said cam means, cam follower support means non! rotatably andslidably mounted upon said shaft and' operatively associated with saidyielding means, whereby the cam followers normallyV engage the cam meansandY when the head is turned,v cause automatic return of the head to theinitial position upon re- 1 lease from? thefrhead turning force,V poweraol means mounted in substantial alignment with l thezshaft and.universally mounted for conical Y swingingmofernent to correspond withhead turning 'n ,iove'meiit, the shaft and yielding means being entirelyWithin tlie cone of movement of the povvermeans for non-interferencetherevvfith, and a i'universal vJ olnt connection bet-Ween the powermeansY and the gate for tilting of the` latter-iniV one direction. Y i

In Witness whereol We have hereuntol afxedour Signatures. i"

v .JAMES H. FRASER.

MORRIS M. DILLEY..

